As he left, conversation around the shop returned to normal - apparently
trivia about the television, and famous actors, in case another Mensa were
to enter unexpectedly. In truth, we each translated our conversation on the
fly, in-depth conversation about the political issues of the day; today's
issue was how to prevent the Mensas from trying to 'help the environment' -
they meant well, evidently not realising how much harm it would do to
replace the ozone layer or reduce carbon dioxide in the upper atmosphere.

They weren't all literally members of Mensa - it was just a convenient
appelation, indicative of their smug so-called superiority. The genuine
members of the 'Mensa' society were, admittedly, amongst the worst of the
Mensas, convinced they know more than the rest of us, and mutually feeding
each others' egos to maintain the illusion. Other similar cliques, less
pretentious but equally destructive, would form and reform as time goes
on - we call them all Mensas. The internet, sadly, made this effect far
more pronounced, as mailing lists became an ideal forum for smugness feedback.

Sometimes one of us would suggest that the Mensas be taught, shown the true
workings of society - that maybe they weren't really as stupid as we think.
I sympathised with the view. I had put it forward myself, when I was younger.
Have you ever tried to tell a Mensa that you know something they don't? It
simply doesn't work. It's like they're willfully blind.

In an ironic way, the Mensas are very amusing. They complain about how 'stupid'
people run everything. The president, the owner of their company, their
manager, "Why is it that stupid people get the power?". Why do you think?
Have you never wondered why 'smart' people like yourself, young Mensa, don't
take the power? Why don't you take it? I'll tell you, it's because you can't.
You don't know how to manipulate. You don't know how to run things. The only
reason you can even organise your own lives is because we feed you the
information. We who you deride as stupid, who you ignore at every opportunity.
It only takes a little more thought to realise who the really stupid people are.

We're happy, of course. We don't mind you thinking we're stupid. We take it as
a compliment; a tribute to our acting skill. We know how uncomfortable it makes
Mensas to encounter people they perceive as smarter than themselves. Imagine
the effect it would have if they knew how we really are. No, everyone's happier
this way - they in their smug superiority, and we, content. We have everything
we could possibly need, and no need to show off about it.